CoolSavings Fuels the CRM Engine.

Business/Technology Editors

CHICAGO-(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2002 --

New EZ Opt-in product quickly fills online databases with qualified consumers so companies can scale one-to-one relationship strategies

Advertisers have long been seeking to develop online customer relationship management (CRM) initiatives that will enable them to establish one-to-one communication with interested consumers. And they've been investing big money to do it. The trouble is, they haven't had an effective way to build their online database with the consumers necessary to fuel these engines.

CoolSavings, Inc. (OTC BB: CSAV), a leading online direct marketing and media company, is now offering a simple, efficient way for companies to acquire a high volume of permission-based qualified leads for their CRM initiatives. Called EZ Opt-in, this exciting new product provides companies with contact information for CoolSavings members who proactively agree to be added to the advertiser's own database. Consumers grant permission with just one click of the mouse.

The service works by providing strongly branded advertiser placement during the most active consumer experiences on coolsavings.com, including the CoolSavings' member registration process, and through specialized category specific e-mail newsletters and solo e-mails sent out on the advertiser's behalf. CoolSavings has more than 21 million members, with more than 600,000 new consumers registering for the service per month.

"With the Internet, every company has the potential to have a direct relationship with the consumer," said Matthew Moog, president and CEO of CoolSavings. "CoolSavings developed EZ Opt-in to quickly provide everyone from big brand retailers to large catalogers to direct marketers with a high volume of consumer leads from our growing 21 million member base."

Added Moog, "Once a company has these leads in their database, they have the power to facilitate a customer relationship management program for ongoing one-to-one communications with consumers."

To ensure against consumers receiving unwanted communications, EZ Opt-in is configured by default to require that members actively check the sign-up box in an advertiser's offer. It also prominently features the advertiser's logo and clear permission language. Together these features not only cut down on consumer confusion, but also ensure a more interested, qualified list for the advertiser.

"We respect our members' privacy rights and do not want to be intrusive," Moog said. "Consumers should have a choice in whether or not they want to receive product information. And advertisers would much rather communicate with informed consumers who are receptive to their messages."

About CoolSavings

CoolSavings is an online direct marketing and media company that provides smarter solutions to connect marketers to their target consumers. Combining industry-leading analytics and incentive technology with superior customer service that emphasizes a consultative approach, we enable a wide variety of advertisers to identify their best customers among our more than 21 million registered members and drive more effective campaign performance. CoolSavings' popular media property, coolsavings.com, is ranked the #1 coupon site on the Internet according to recent Jupiter Media Metrix reports. (1)

(1)Jupiter Media Metrix June 2002 report

CoolSavings is a registered trademark of CoolSavings, Inc. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Statements in this press release regarding CoolSavings' business which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the matters discussed in this press release. These and other important factors, including those mentioned in various Securities and Exchange Commission filings made periodically by CoolSavings, may cause CoolSavings' actual results and performance to differ materially from the future results and performance expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of some of the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in CoolSavings' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed with the SEC.